German hostage said freed in Nigeria

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 5 (UPI) -- Nigerian rebels have released a German national who was kidnapped last week in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Deutsche Welle reported Wednesday that the victim had been held for less than a day.

The kidnapping was the first abduction of a foreigner in the delta since last fall, and Deutsche Welle said it wasn't clear if the incident was an isolated occurrence or if it signaled a resumption of rebel attacks on foreign workers.

Kidnappings of workers in the delta's oil fields have frequently been deemed responsible for pushing world crude oil prices higher.